at Users Tell Us
Page 8
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Interview 24
"Quite a Reorganization in the Matter of Our Delivery."
Hitherto in this series, much of what users have had to tell us has been concerning the speedy despatch and delivery of goods. not directly associated with the business life, as for instance, the transport by motor of pianos, toffee, candles, drinkables, etc.
In this, our latest interview, however, we deviate slightly from the somewhat beaten track. The Clean Towel Supply Co., Ltd., 10, Cumming Street, Pentonville Road, London, N., is essentially a business house for the business man. It is therefore quite natural to expect that in this flourishing undertaking, as in other well-organized concerns, modern methods prevail throughout the organization.
In connection with the abovementioned company we have oftentimes seen material evidence of its up-to-date policy in the shape of a speedy and smart-looking delivery van, and, in consequence, we very soon decided to open up negotiations for a "What Users" interview. We were subsequently invited to call round at the company's offices, and the manager, Mr. Harold T. Boswood, proved only too pleased to help us. This gentleman proudly told us that his undertaking is the pioneer and original company in the matter of . clean-towel supply in London, being established so far back as 1889. The method of the company's transport in those days, as explained by Mr. Boswood, very much amused us — those cumbersomelooking tricycles, the construction of which embodied a huge wheel disposed at the passenger's right hand and two very small ones at the left-hand side, and, for carrying the collection of towels, a tin box was mounted on the frame of the machine.
Much amusement was afforded pedestrians, we were informed, and the noise and clatter those tin boxes made when the tricycles were passing over "kidney stones," with which many of the City streets in those days were paved, can be better imagined than described. As time went on these machines were superseded and hand-trucks utilized ; business increased so much that 10 trucks were eventually in use. The management soon realized that this was a very crude form of transit to be employed by a progressive firm, and, therefore, it was decided to make a de
cee parture in the direction of motor delivery. A 10-12 h.p. Belsize was the first choice, and this was procured in October last.
"What is your opinion of this new method ? " we inquired.
" Well, although we have only m had the machine a few onth I s, must say that there has been quite a reorganization in the me,tter of our delivery, which, as you may expect, is of a nature in which a multiplicity of calls is the order of the day. The first month I rode alongside the driver himself in order to make out a basis list for future deliveries, and I was surprised at the distance we covered and the numerous deliveries we were enabled to make even before our motor transport, had been properly organized." " Of course, you have very ninny stoppages to make in your particular business? "
" Yes ; on an average our daily deliveries amount to 200. We could do more, but as our machine starts on its round at eight o'clock in the morning there is often much delay in the early hours of the day on account of people not having their parcels ready. However, with the motor we are enabled to make return calls and therefore, as much as possible, to minimize delay. Of course, with our old truck methods this would have been quite an impossible proposition, and we-should miss much custom in consequence.
"My directors have commended me on my choice, and altogether wo are very well satisfied.
"A point of considerable satisfaction about the matter is that we have been enabled to book fresh customers, and there is no doubt this has been largely due to the smart andup-to-date looking motorvan which we employ, together with our uniformed messengers. As you may guess, the professional gentleman hardly likes a hand truck to be drawn up in front of his offices and a somewhat dirty, begrimed boy to hand in a bundle of towels.
" We supply towels to the Automobile Association, the Motor Union, _General Union Insurance, Lanchester Motor Co., Halleys Industrial Motors, Ltd., the London Motor Garage, and the Electromobile Co., so that you see we are well mixed up in the motor industry."
'Very much so," we commented.
" As I said before, our business has increased, and at the present time we are putting through the works as many as 3000 towels a day, that is inclusive of dusters, tea cloths and glass polishers. To meet the magnitude of delivery this number entails, our van works from eight a. mu. to eight .p.m.
" We are now able to deliver and collect as far as Haynes Park, Greenwich, and the other end of the Blackwell Tunnel. We do, on an average, about 250 miles a week."